Treasure in Jars of Clay, based on 2 Corinthians 4:7

We have this treasure in jars of clay--
Common,
Breakable,
Replaceable,
Interchangeable--
Because what matters is
What we hold, not
Who we are and
Let the Potter create us and
Trust the Owner to use us and
Simply serve as chosen to,
Rejoicing to be His.

Contentment Comes

Contentment comes from
Joyfully embracing the circumstances
God has ordained for you
Instead of wishing to experience
The circumstances others seem to be enjoying;
Look upward, not outward,
Rejoicing in Him who rightly chooses
You and where He places you and
The time in which He places you.

Some Thoughts about Giving Thanks

What motivates us? Psalm 26:7: "Proclaiming thanksgiving aloud, and telling of all your wondrous deeds."

What encourages us? Psalm 50:23: "The one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies me, to the one who orders his way rightly, I will show the salvation of God!"

What occupies missionaries? Psalm 57:9: "I will give thanks to you, O LORD, among the peoples; I will sing praises among the nations."

What amazes us? Psalm 28:7:  "The LORD is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I shall thank him."

What warns us? Romans 1:21: "For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God, or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened."

There are commands to give thanks which are sometimes hard to fulfill, such as Ephesians 5:20: "Give thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ," and 1 Thessalonians 5:18: "Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."

But these ought to always come readily if you are in Christ:

Romans 6:17: "But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed."

1 Corinthians 15:57: "But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."

2 Corinthians 9:15: "Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!"

Colossians 3:17: "And whatever you do in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, giving thanks to God the Father through him"

And one I come back to pretty much every day:

Philippians 4:6: "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God."

Considering How Little Perspective We Really Have

Scripture says we are but vapors.
One could say, "Here today and gone today."
We vanish like the mist of night,
When the sun rises in its power.
We think we have tomorrow
When we may not have another breath.
We think we have power
Yet let the electricity go out and we know otherwise.
We not only lack power but patience.
We think more highly of ourselves without realizing what we are.
We think we need more self-esteem.
Scripture tells us otherwise.
Scripture tells us not to thing more highly of ourselves but to think more highly of others--counter-intuitive if ever anything were.
Yet look at Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith, who made Himself of no reputation, who sought only and always the Father's will, even to death on a cross.
Are any of us as humble as He was or calls us to be?

Philippians 2:1-8: "Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Holy Spirit, if any affection and compassion, make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross."

God Is Ever

God is ever
Present;
God is ever
Righteous;
God is ever
Gracious;
God is ever
Merciful;
God is ever
Just;
God is ever
Holy;
God is ever
Father;
God is ever
Son;
God is ever
Spirit;
God is ever
One;
God is ever
Unchanging.
Therefore
His Word--
The 66 books we call the Bible--
Is unchanging,
Ever reliable,
Even the parts which challenge
Rather than comfort--
Ever and evermore.